Pyromechanical separating device with a specially shaped current conductor rail

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a pyromechanical separating device comprising a housing ( 2 ) wherein an electrically conductive current conductor rail ( 1 ) is arranged. Said current conductor rail is embodied such that it can be separated at a separation point ( 7 ) by a separating cutting tool ( 5 ) which is driven by a pyrotechnical propelling charge. The current conductive rail ( 1 ) comprises, on the ends thereof ( 14 ), a fixing means ( 6 ) for connecting electrical conductors. According to the invention, both end parts ( 14 ) of the current conductor rail ( 1 ) are disposed at right angles to the plane of the separation point ( 7 ) in order to prevent a break in the current conductor rail ( 1 ), and the separation point ( 7 ) is formed by a tapering of the cross section of the conductor.

The invention relates to a pyromechanical disconnecting device with ahousing in which an electrically conducting current conductor rail isarranged, constructed as able to be cut through by a disconnecting tooldriven by a pyrotechnical propellant charge at a disconnecting point,and the current conductor rail has on its end pieces in each case afastening facility for connecting electrical conductors.

A pyromechanical disconnecting device of this kind is described in DE197 12 387 A1 and shows an electrically conducting current conductorrail arranged in a straight line in a housing.

A disadvantage of this way of carrying conductors is that, because theconductors are carried in a straight line through the necessary screwconnection, e.g. to a car battery, the vibrations, jolts, changes intemperature, etc., occurring during operation of the vehicle, result inundesired deformations and twisting of the current conductor rail, whichin the extreme case causes the current conductor rail to break, wherebythe current supply in the vehicle would be undesiredly interrupted.

The object of the invention is to further develop a pyromechanicaldisconnecting device according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a waythat even heavy stresses do not cause the current conductor rail tobreak and the disconnecting point has a defined conductor cross-section.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that the two endpieces of the current conductor rail are arranged at right angles to theplane of the disconnecting point and the disconnecting point is formedby a tapering of the conductor cross-section.

In advantagous configuration of the invention the tapering of theconductor cross-section goes through the entire width of the currentconductor rail.

The arrangement of the end pieces constructed at right angles to theplane of the disconnecting point is preferably achieved by doubleright-angled bending of the current conductor rail in each case. Thisbending is done at two different points of the current conductor rail.

The disconnecting point preferably forms a quadrangle on the currentconductor rail with two transitions to the remaining current conductorrail, arranged crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the currentconductor rail, wherein the transitions in one embodiment run diagonallyending in the remaining current conductor rail.

Alternatively, one transition has a one-sided notch in the tapering andthe other transition is constructed as a bending point. In this way thedisconnecting tool can cut through the disconnecting point at the notchand then bend the tapering at the bending point.

This is made easier if the bending point preferably has an inward notchon the side of the transition facing away from the disconnecting tool.

This pyromechanical disconnecting device is preferably used forelectrical uncoupling of a car battery in the event of an accident.

The invention is described in greater detail below using individualfigures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a current conductor rail 1 located in a housing 2consisting of a housing lower part 3 and a housing upper part 4. Furtherindicated in FIG. 1 is a disconnecting tool 5 which is accelerated bysuitable measures and disconnects the current conductor rail 1 owing toits kinetic energy.

FIG. 2 shows the current conductor rail 1 as a whole. The disconnectingpoint 7 forms a quadrangle on the current conductor rail 1 with twotransitions 11 to the remaining current conductor rail 9, arrangedcross-wise to the longitudinal direction of the current conductor rail1. On the end pieces 11 (sic) a fastening facility 6, here fasteningholes, is arranged in each case. These two end pieces 14 are arranged atright angles to the plane of the disconnecting point 7. This rectangulararrangement to the plane of the disconnecting point 7 is achieved bydouble rectangular bending of the current conductor rail 1 at twodifferent points 16, 17 in each case. This advantageously reduces theforces on the disconnecting point 7 and thereby appreciably decreasesthe mechanical stress on the component.

FIG. 3 shows a section through a current conductor rail 1 in the area ofthe disconnecting point 7. At the disconnecting point 7 the conductorcross-section 8 is tapered in respect of the remaining current conductorrail 9. The length of the tapering is designated by the referencenumeral 10. At the edge of the disconnecting point 7 this passes overinto the remaining current conductor rail 9 in each case via atransition 11. In the embodiment in FIG. 3 these transitions pass overinto the remaining current conductor rail 7 (sic) running diagonally.

FIG. 4 shows an additional notch 12 which appreciably simplifies thedisconnecting process.

FIG. 5 shows the notch 12 and additionally on the opposite transition abent transition 11, whereby a bending point 15 is created.

In FIG. 6 an inward notch 13 is arranged at the bending point 15 on theside of the transition 11 facing away from the disconnecting tool 5.This inward notch 13 appreciably simplifies the bending process.

This disconnecting device is preferably used for the electricaluncoupling of a car battery in the event of an accident.

1. Pyromechanical disconnecting device with a housing (2), in which anelectrically conducting current conductor rail (1) is arranged,constructed as able to be cut through by a disconnecting tool (5) drivenby a pyrotechnical propellant charge at a disconnecting point (7), andthe current conductor rail (1) has on its end pieces (14) in each case afastening facility (6) for connecting electrical conductors,characterised in that the two end pieces (14) of the current conductorrail (1) are arranged at right angles to the plane of the disconnectingpoint (7) and the disconnecting point (7) is formed by a tapering of theconductor cross-section.
 2. Disconnecting device according to claim 1,characterised in that the tapering of the conductor cross-section goesthrough the entire width of the current conductor rail (1). 3.Disconnecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in thatthe arrangement of the end pieces (14) constructed at right angles tothe disconnecting point (7) is achieved in each case by doublerectangular bending of the current conductor rail (1).
 4. Disconnectingdevice according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that thedisconnecting point (7) forms a quadrangle on the current conductor rail(1) with two transitions (11) to the remaining current conductor rail(9), arranged cross-wise to the longitudinal direction of the currentconductor rail (1).
 5. Disconnecting device according to claim 4,characterised in that the transitions (11) run diagonally ending in theremaining current conductor rail (9).
 6. Disconnecting device accordingto claim 4 or 5, characterised in that a transition (11) has a one-sidednotch (12) in the tapering and the other transition is constructed as abending point (15).
 7. Disconnecting device according to claim 6,characterised in that the bending point (15) has an inward notch (13) onthe side of the transition (11) facing away from the disconnecting tool(5).
 8. Use of the pyromechanical disconnecting device according to oneof claims 1 to 7 for the electrical uncoupling of a car battery in theevent of an accident.